Home/Countries/Serbia
EuropeRepatriation to Serbia and repatriation to Germany
Every repatriation to Serbia – whether by coffin or urn – requires a Serbian transit permit for remains, the Sprovodnica, issued by a Serbian mission in Germany. We apply for it, drive the roughly 940 kilometres from Munich to Belgrade and work with partner funeral directors in Serbia.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Serbia at a glance
- Transport route
- By road via Austria, Slovenia and Croatia; Munich–Belgrade approx. 940 km; air freight possible
- Border
- Serbia is not an EU member: border and customs checks at the EU's external border
- Certificates
- Multilingual CIEC certificates recognised without formalities; otherwise apostille (both Hague Conventions of 1961)
- Agreements
- The Berlin Agreement of 1937 does not apply; Germany has not ratified the Council of Europe Agreement of 1973; CIEC Convention No. 16
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy in Berlin, consulates general in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart
- Local partners
- Partner funeral directors in Serbia
From Germany to Serbia: Sprovodnica and procedure
Anyone wishing to bring a deceased person from abroad to Serbia needs a document from the Republic of Serbia: the Sprovodnica (accompanying permit for human remains). The application is made by the relatives or an appointed funeral director at a Serbian mission. In Germany, these are the embassy in Berlin and the consulates general in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart. According to the Consulate General in Frankfurt, all documents must be submitted in the original.
The requirements include the deceased's passport and an application stating the place of burial and the transport route. In addition, there is the extract from the register of deaths (izvod iz matične knjige umrlih, MKU for short) and a medical report on the cause of death. The Serbian consulate also explicitly lists the German body passport (Leichenpass) as a required document. If the deceased was not a Serbian citizen, a confirmation of a secured grave in Serbia must be provided.
The journey runs from Munich via Salzburg, the Tauern motorway, Slovenia and Croatia to Belgrade, approximately 940 kilometres. The EU's external border, with border and customs checks, runs between Croatia and Serbia. We carry all originals with us and allow for waiting times. Destinations in central and southern Serbia, such as Kragujevac or Niš, are correspondingly further. On site, our partner funeral director in Serbia handles the handover to the family, church and cemetery.
- SprovodnicaSerbian accompanying permit, issued by the embassy or a consulate general in Germany
- Izvod iz MKU / international death certificateGerman extract from the register of deaths, ideally as a multilingual CIEC version
- Medical report on the cause of deathFrom the doctor or taken from the medical certificate of death
- Body passportTransport permit from the German public order office
- Passport of the deceasedIn the original
- Confirmation of the grave plotOnly if the deceased was not a Serbian citizen
Death in Serbia: repatriation to Germany
If a German citizen dies in Serbia, the Serbian authorities inform the embassy promptly, according to the German Embassy in Belgrade. The civil registry office at the place of death issues the extract from the register of deaths, the izvod iz matične knjige umrlih. For use in Germany, the international multilingual version (CIEC) is advisable. Germany and Serbia are both contracting states of the CIEC Convention; such certificates therefore require neither translation nor apostille.
For repatriation to Germany, the German Embassy in Belgrade issues the body passport (Leichenpass), and for an urn an urn certificate. Documents to be submitted include two death certificates, the Serbian medical certificate of death and a certificate of encoffinment. In addition, a confirmation from the German cemetery administration that a grave is available and the order confirmation of a Serbian funeral director are required. The embassy assigns appointments for this; in urgent cases it can be reached by telephone.
Important for documents relating to Kosovo: the embassy points out that Serbian civil status documents relating to Kosovo may be problematic in Germany. If the place of death is there, we clarify the procedure with the family at an early stage. Our partner in Serbia handles the collection and formalities, and we handle the journey to Germany.
- Izvod iz matične knjige umrlihSerbian extract from the register of deaths, as an international CIEC certificate for Germany
- Medical certificate of deathSerbian document, sufficient without translation according to the embassy
- Body passport (Leichenpass) or urn certificateIssued by the German Embassy in Belgrade
- Coffining and health clearance certificateConfirms that there are no health concerns
- Confirmation from the cemetery administrationConfirmation of a grave in Germany
Good to know: funeral customs and particularities in Serbia
The majority of people in Serbia belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church. In Orthodox families, the funeral service and memorial services (parastos) are part of the farewell, especially 40 days after death. Many families wish to bury the deceased in the family grave in their home town. Please tell us the desired date of the funeral early on. We plan the journey and the waiting time at the border so that the coffin arrives in time.
According to Destatis, around 271,000 Serbian citizens were living in Germany at the end of 2025, in addition to many naturalised families with roots in Serbia. Those heading to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or North Macedonia also often travel through Serbia. For transit, Serbia requires a separate transit permit (tranzitna sprovodnica). The tranzitna sprovodnica requires the same documents as the regular Sprovodnica, plus the accompanying permit of the country in which the burial takes place. We apply for both papers in one step so that nothing is missing at the border.
Urn transfer to Serbia
An urn also needs a Sprovodnica to be brought into Serbia. According to the Serbian Consulate General in Frankfurt, the same documents are required as for a coffin, plus the cremation certificate. For the opposite direction, the German Embassy in Belgrade issues an urn certificate; this requires the cremation certificate (translated if possible) and a confirmation from the Serbian authorities or the funeral director regarding the urn. Whether relatives may take the urn with them on the plane depends on the airline.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Serbia
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Serbia requires and send you a written fixed price – free of charge and without obligation.
- Free and without obligation
- Written fixed price, no extra charges later
- Your data stays with us
- Request
- –
- Urgency
- Immediately
- Contact
- Phone call
Your enquiry goes directly to Rudolf Nordheimer. You will receive a written fixed price.
Frequently asked questions about Serbia
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsWhat is a Sprovodnica and where do I get it?
The Sprovodnica is the Serbian accompanying permit for bringing a deceased person or an urn into the country. It is applied for at the Serbian embassy in Berlin or a Serbian consulate general in Germany. We submit the application with your power of attorney.
Which documents does the Serbian consulate require for a repatriation?
Among others, the deceased's passport, the extract from the register of deaths, a medical report on the cause of death, the German body passport (Leichenpass) and an application stating the place of burial and the transport route. For foreign nationals, a confirmation of the grave in Serbia is also required, and for an urn the cremation certificate.
How long does the journey to Belgrade take, and are there customs checks?
It is approximately 940 kilometres from Munich to Belgrade. Serbia is not part of the EU, so there are checks at the border. We carry all originals with us and allow for waiting times.
Who issues the body passport if someone has died in Serbia?
The German Embassy in Belgrade, by appointment. Among other things, it requires two death certificates, the Serbian medical certificate of death and the confirmation from the German cemetery administration. The application can also be submitted by a funeral director with power of attorney.
Does a Serbian death certificate need an apostille in Germany?
Not if it is issued as a multilingual CIEC certificate. Other Serbian documents require an apostille. It is issued by the court of first instance in the district where the document was issued.
Sources: Serbian Consulate General Frankfurt: Prenos posmrtnih ostataka · Serbian Embassy Helsinki: Transport of human remains · German Embassy Belgrade: help for Germans (death in Serbia) · German Embassy Belgrade: Serbian and German documents (CIEC, apostille) · German Federal Foreign Office: missions of Serbia in Germany · HCCH: status table of the Apostille Convention · CIEC: Convention No. 16, status list · Destatis: foreign population by nationality
Information provided without guarantee, as of 10/2026. Requirements of authorities and airlines change; we check them for each case.
We are here for you now
Day and night, including weekends. One call is all it takes to get the repatriation under way.